Heart Failure
Program
Heart failure is a progressive condition that results
from the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to meet the
demands of the body. Heart Failure affects approximately 5 million
people in the U.S., with over 550,000 newly diagnosed patients
each year. Heart failure accounts for 12 to 15 million office visits
and 6.5 million hospital days every year. Most cases of heart failure
result from damage due to heart attacks, coronary artery disease, and
uncontrolled high blood pressure.
The goal of ForeSee Health’s Heart Failure program is to
increase the survival rate for heart failure patients, reduce symptoms
and improve functional status and quality of life. Designed and monitored
by physician experts in cardiology and primary care, this program focuses
on those participants at highest-risk of a significant cardiovascular
event, while also trying to identify and manage those whose risk is
increasing.
The Heart Failure program helps participants take charge of their health
by teaching participants how to feel their best and avoid developing symptoms
that lessen their quality of life, and put them at risk for hospitalization.
Management of heart failure has advanced considerably, and ForeSee
ensures that every participant is empowered with the latest information and
effective lifestyle coaching that achieves results.
Measured outcomes of the heart failure program include reduction of
hospital admissions or readmissions and decreasing the number of
hospital days and length of stay. The program also focuses attention on
the moderately acute participants with heart failure. Savings generated by
early intervention derive from comprehensive participant education, RN Care
Manager support, regular testing and monitoring, adherence to medication
regimens, early indication of exacerbations and smoking cessation.
ForeSee has selected the
American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA)
ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline or the Diagnosis and Management of
Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult as its basis for developing measurements, risk
stratifications, disease/care management strategies, and
patient/provider interventions. These guidelines are shared with
participating physicians and participants. All heart failure educational
materials, including newsletters and educational “tip sheets”, are
developed and continually assessed for compliance with these
guidelines.